Punjab lose by 48 runs, fail to make it to quarters

Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 14

Bengal beat Punjab by 48 runs in their Group A encounter to enter the quarterfinals of the Ranji Trophy. Chasing a target of 190 runs, Punjab made a mess of their run chase to be bowled out for 141. The spinners dominated the game with Bengal left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed picking up four wickets in the second innings to take his match haul to 11.

Resuming Day 3 at 199/9, Bengal scored only three more runs to set Punjab a 190-run target. It turned out to be enough in a low-scoring game with Punjab getting bowled out in 47. 3 overs. Ramandeep Singh (69* off 104) ran out of partners in the end. Bengal gained six points from the win, pushing them on the top of the standings.

Haryana require 121 for win against J&K

Jammu: A seven-wicket haul by Jayant Yadav helped Haryana bounce back into contention on the third day of their Group C match against Jammu and Kashmir. The off-spinner took a career-best haul of 7/58 to bowl out the home team for 174, leaving Haryana to chase 224 for an outright victory. The home team then picked up five wickets as Haryana finished the day at 103/5, requiring another 121. J&K had taken the first-innings lead after putting up 340 and then bowling out Haryana for 291.

The home team failed to build on a good start in the second innings with openers Suryansh Raina (38) and Jiyad Magrey (16) putting on 55 runs before Yadav got into the act. He got the key wickets of Raina, Shubham Khajuria (9) and Shubham Pundir (12) to trigger a collapse. Captain Parvez Rasool looked good till he was run out for 29 by Chaitanya Bishnoi.

In the second innings, Haryana lost wickets at regular intervals as Rasool (3/35) dismissed first-innings centurion Pramod Chandila (1), opener Himanshu Rana (24) and Yashu Sharma (24).

HP in sight of victory

Lucknow: Himachal Pradesh are in sight of victory as UP need 458 runs with six wickets in hand on Day 4 of their Group B tie.

The visitors declared their second innings on 433/7 after tons from Akash Vashisht (141) and Nikhil Gangta (102). For UP, Saurabh Kumar bagged 5/121. At stumps, UP were 77/4 in 26.1 overs with A Juyal 38* at the crease.

Brief scores

Bengal: 138 & 202; Punjab: 151 & 141 (Ramandeep Singh 69*, Mandeep Singh 17; Shahbaz Ahmed 4/44)

J&K: 340 & 174 (Suryansh Raina 38, Parvez Rasool 29; Jayant Yadav 7/58); Haryana: 291 & 103/5 (Chaitanya Bishnoi 31, Himanshu Rana 24; Parvez Rasool 3/35)

HP: 220 & 433/7decl (AP Vasisht 141; Nikhil Gangta 102; Saurabh Kumar 5/121); UP: 119 & 77/4